lynn, john mccain has been the chief inquisitor pushing these claims. however, i want to play for you two pieces of sound from him. one from a few weeks ago, two weeks ago, in fact, the other from sunday. see if you can notice a little difference. >> i will do everything in my power to block her from being the united states secretary of state. >> she could conceivably get your vote for secretary of state? >> i think she deserves the ability and the opportunity to explain herself and her position just as she said. >> that was -- they were, of course, clips referring to susan rice. to my ears that second clip sounds like what is known in military circles as a retreat. is that right? >> well, i think -- yes, it's right, martin, and senator mccain's retreat if that's what you want to call it, pretty good word, by the way, for this actually started a week ago sunday. this is the second sunday in a row where he is laying the groundwork for letting susan rice vhave her say if she's nominated. this seems prudent because carrying on a campaign against her when y